Mechanism for opening or closing a switch by means of an electric motor



March 20, 1962 T. F. JOHNSON MECHANISM FOR OPENING OR CLOSING A SWITCH BY MEANS OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1960 F w W M z WJ M March 20, 1962 T. F. JQHNSON 3,026,388

MECHANISM FOR OPENING OR CLOSING A swncn BY MEANS OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR Filed July 13, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z2 [3 .ifigz Z F Al j I I a O 4 ll 4 6 3 l 7 Z J0 Z 1 INVENTOR.

I EMA/Mia fJ/m/ao/v March 20, 1962 T. F. JOHNSON 3,026,388

MECHANISM FOR OPENING 0R CLOSING A SWITCH BY MEANS OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR Filed July 13, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet :s

w 52 v gig/@423 T'a/ 57 J 25 INVENTOR.

,qrraelvar United States This invention relates to high tension electric switches atent 3,h2fi,383 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 ice rotating insulator type switch units connected to one and has more particular reference to apparatus for open ing and closing gang operated high tension electric switches.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus for opening and closing gang operated high tension electric switches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus, as characterized above, including electrically operated means for moving the switches to closed and opened positions and locking means for holding the switches in the position to which they have been moved.

A further object of the invention is to provlde apparatus for opening and closing gang high tension electric switches which is simple and inexpensive in construction and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a gang of high tension electric switches and showing them connected to one embodiment of apparatus for opening and closing the switches and holding them in then opened or closed position, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

I FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, showing the construction of a switch unit;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the reversible gear electric motor shown in FIG. 1, and the manner in which it is connected to rotate the vertical switch operating shaft for the gang of switches;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear end view of the gear motor shown 1n FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 3, but showing a modified way of connecting the reversible motor to rotate the switch operating shaft; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, showing the operating arm in difierent positions.

The present invention provides novel and improved apparatus for operating high tension electric switches of the movable insulator type wherein a stationary insulator carrying switch jaws and a movable insulator carrying a switch blade are mounted on a common support. The invention provides novel and improved means for moving the switches to either opened or closed position and holding them in the position to which they have been moved.

The improved apparatus is particularly designed 'for operating groups or gangs of such high tension electric switches.

While the improved apparatus, for operating a gang of high tension electric switches, of the present invention, can be used with high tension electric switches of either the vertical break rotating type switch, such as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,248,876, the side break rotating type such as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,231,- 809, or the rocking insulator type such as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,794,871; for the purpose of illustration, it will be shown and described as used with a high embodiment of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for operating the switch units as a group to move them to closed or opened position and to hold them in the position to which they have been moved. As there shown, the apparatus comprises a gang or group of switch units S, three such being shown, each having the operating arm A of its rotating insulator pivotally connected to an interphase rod or pipe 10; a vertical rotatable operating shaft or down pipe 11 journaled in suitable bearings 12 carried by brackets 13 mounted on the frame, indicated generally at 14, which support the switch units S; a reach pipe 15 pivotally connected at one end to the interphase pipe 10 and having its other end pivotally connected to the down pipe 11; a spring biased operating arm device, indicated generally at 16, fixedly secured on the bottom end portion of the down pipe 11; and a reversible electric gear motor 17 having a cam member 18 in the form of a slotted disc mounted on an extension shaft of the gear mechanism for engaging the arm device 16 to rotate the down pipe 11.

The switch units S are generally similar to the switch unit shown in FIG. 6 of my prior Patent No. 2,231,809, and, as shown in FIG. 3, each comprises a stationary insulator 19, fixedly mounted on one end of an ordinary structural channel member forming the base member 20 of the switch unit, and a rotating insulator 21 mounted on the other end of the base member. The stationary insulator 19 carries the usual switch jaws and terminal connections, indicated generally at 22, and the rotating insulator 31 carries the usual switch blade assembly and terminal connections, indicated generally at 23.

The operating rod 10 is pivotally connected to the usual operating arm A of each of the rotating insulators for rotating these arms simultaneously as a unit to simultaneously open or close all of the switches.

The gear motor 17 may be of any suitable usual commercial type of a combined reversible electric motor and reduction gearing. In this particular modification, the gear motor is designed to rotate the cam disc 18 fixedly mounted on the extension shaft 24 from the gear motor at from 8 to 10 r.p.m. The cam disc 18 is provided with one or more radially extending slots 25 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The spring biased operating arm device 16 is shown as comprising a collar 26 fixed on the down pipe 11 and having a short laterally projecting arm 27 formed integral therewith, the outer end of the arm 27 is rounded. A coil spring 28 having one end connected to a bracket 29 carried by the frame 14 and its other end connected to an eye 30 formed on the collar 26, normally holds the arm 27 in horizontal alignment with the spring.

The down pipe 11, the reach pipe 15, and the interphase pipe 10 are so connected that the pipe 11 must be rotated through to move the switches from closed to open position or from open to closed position, and the collar 26 is secured on the down pipe 11 so that the arm 27 will project in a vertical plane coinciding with the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal center line of the shaft 24 of the gear motor, when the down pipe 11 has been rotated 45 away from the position it occupies when the switch units are opened and when they are closed. When the arm 27 is in this position it will project into and through one of the slots on the cam disc 18. As the cam disc 13 is rotated in either direction, one of the edges of the slot will engage the side of the arm 27 and, with a cam-like action, will cause the arm to be swung either to the right or left until. it

' the down pipe.

has reached the limit of its 90 movement, at which time it will have moved out of the slot and will be held in engagement with the outer surface of the disc by the action of the coil spring28. This will be true, regardless" of the direction of rotation of the disc. The starting and stopping and reversing the direction of the motor are controlled by an operator by means of a suitable usual switch panel (not shown) located in a remote con- .trol room.

-From.the foregoin the operation of the apparatus isbelieved apparent. With the switches closed, as shown in FIG. 1, the motor is stopped, the arm 27 is resiliently held against the surface of the disc 18, thereby locking the switches'in closed position. When the operator drawing from the slot and, at the point of withdrawal,

the down pipe 11 will have been rotated through 90, moving the switches from closed to open position. The arm is resiliently held against the outer surface of the disc, thus holding the switches locked in their open po sition. Then'theoperator stops the motor. If the disc 7 should revolve :after the arm has completed its movenient in either direction, it would have no effect on the switches.

In FIGS. 6,7 and 8, there is illustrated a modified cam disc construction for engaging the operating arm on As there shown, the gear motor 17' is connected to rotate a vertical shaft 31 on which is fixedly mounted a horizontal'disc' 32 having an upturned circular flange 33 arou'nd'its periphery. The flange 33 projects upwardly at a 90' angle to thesurface of the horizontal disc and has one or more vertical slots 34 formed therein. 'The disc 32' is so positioned relative to the operating arm 27.that the arm' engages the outer surface of the circular flange 33 and projects through theslots 34 formed therein when the slots are brought into align- 'mentwith the arm.. V

'The operation of this modified form 'of apparatus is 'similarto the apparatus'shown in FIG. 1. The rotation of the disc in one direction opens the switches and rotation in the opposite direction closes the switches; The spring 28 holds the switches locked in either closed or open position.

From the foregoingdescription, it readily will be seen that there has been provided novel, and improved electrically operated apparatus for opening and locking open and closing and locking closed, as a unit, a gang of high tension electric switches; apparatus which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and efiicient in operation.

While the'apparatus has been illustrated and described as operatinga triple pole switch made up ofthree'high tension switch units of the rotating insulator type, obviously, it could just as readily be employed to operate double pole or single pole switches of the rotative or rocking insulator type.

Obviously, too, the invention isnot restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described;

" What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for operating a group of high tension electric switches of'the movable insulator type comprising a horizontal rod connected to the movable insulator of each of said switches for turning the movable insulators,.as a, unit to simultaneously open and close all of said switches; a vertical rotatable shaft having its upper send connected to'operate'said horizontal rod and having alaterally projecting operating arm fixedly secured thereon intermediate its ends; a rotatable cam member for moving said operating arm to a position in which said switches are closed and to a position in which said switches are open; spring biased means for locking said switches in their closedand open positions; and a reversible electric motor for rotating said cam member.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member comprises a disc having an outwardly opening vertical axis and having an upturned circular flange' around its periphery, said flange having an opening formed therein and being so positioned relative to said operating arm that the outer free end of said arm engages the outer surface of the flange and projects through said opening therein when the openingand arm are brought into alignment.

5. Apparatus as set'for'th in claim 4 wherein said spring biased means comprises a coil spring mounted to normally resiliently hold said arm against the surface of said cam member.

65Apparatus for operating a high tension electric switch of the movable insulator type comprising a vertical rotatable shaft having its upper end connected to turn the movable insulator to open and close the switch and having a laterally projecting operating arm fixedly securedthereon intermediate its ends; a rotatable cam member for moving said operating arm to a position in which said switch is closed and to a position in which said switch is open; spring biased means for locking said switch in its closed and open positions; and a reversible electric motor for rotating said cam member.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cam member comprises a disc having an outwardly opening radial slot formed therein, said disc'being mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and so positioned relative to said operating arm that the free end of the arm engages the surface of the disc and projects through the slot therein when they are bro'ught into alignment.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said spring biasedmeans comprises a coil spring mounted to normally resiliently hold said arm against the surface of said cam member.

7 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cam member comprises a disc mounted for'rotation about a vertical axis and having an upturned circular flange around its periphery, said flange having an opening formed therein and being so positioned relative to said operating arm that the outer free end of said arm engages the outer surface of the flange and projects through said into alignment. 7

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim ,9, wherein said opening therein when the opening'and arm are brought spring biased'means comprises a coil spring mounted to normally resiliently hold said arm against the surface of said cam member.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Powell Nov. 8, 1960 7 

